THE MATINEE HAT COMEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 293, 10 December 1910, Page 17

THE MATINEE HAT COMEDY.

FULL HTORY OF AMUSING ADVBB- - TISDJG HOAX. - MB Cir't.£3N AND~THE PRESS AGENT. Full details came to hand on Monday of the matinee bat comedy, concerning which we have had one or two cables. As we already know, Mr Thomas Lnmley Dann, Press agent, and 'his wife,; claimed £100 and £52 10/ respectively - from' Mr Curxon as the amount, "verbally agreed to be paid by the defendant for assisting in carrying out by way of advertisement" the aforesaid incident \ Mrs Woodfail, wearing a matinee hat, adorned with a large ostrich feather, occupied a seat beside his Honor. MISS JAY'S MODEL HAT. Mr Lllley, opening the case for the plaintiff, said that in March, "The Balkan Princess" was miming at the Prince of Wales' Theatre, and the leading part was taken by Miss Isabel Jay, who ln the second act wore a hat which was noticed in the Press as one likely to solve a very important and difficult problem. It was suggested that it was a hat which ladies would be content to wear, and yet was a hat which would not impede the vision of those Who sat behind them in the stalls of a theatre. Mr Dann at that time (counsel continued) received an appointment as Press manager for a month on trial for . the "Balkan Princess," and seeing the criticism, a scheme occurred -to him, which he outlined to,Mr Cunon. It would have the three advantages that It would call attention to the matinee hat question, would advertise Mr Curaon himself, and-would procure a decision as,to., whether the manager of a' theatre could refuse to allow, ladies to occupy seats for which they ;had paid if they obstructed the view of those behind.

The matter was discussed (counsel went on). Mr Dann said he would/want 100 guineas and 50 guineas for bis wif e.' Mr Curzon instructed him to go ahead, and the Incident was fixed to take place on April 6. On that day Mrs Dann and'V friend, Mrs Bardley, wearing large hats, went to the theatre-for the matinee performance," and took seats in the stalls. Mr Dann had also procured a .seat behind, .and this was occupied by a gentleman who protested against the ladles'; hats and continued to make remarks about them which-- the ladies resented. The gentleman went out, Mr.Cnrzon was summoned, and an. attendant requested the attendance of the ladles outsider. -.-" ;"".' " '.'' '</ . "GREAT NOTORIETY.'' . The ladles (counsel. said) complained, in accordance with the part assigned to them, which had, been carefully written out by. Mr Dann, of the remarks that had been addressed to them' about their hats. Mr Curzon refused to allow .them to re-enter the threatre. A?summons,;was Issued,.and the, parties attended} at Bow-street In,!the opinion of. the magistrate, Mr Curzon-.was right in the attitude he" had adopted.^"' Iff' those, circumstances, counted said, a great deal.of notoriety having been achieved, Mr Dann applied to Mr Curzon for the proposed remuneration. That had never.been paid. Mr Dann, giving evidence, said that when he unfolded, his scheme, Mr Curzon said it was '- • ■-, ~;. - --'""" '' A GOOD IDEA. BUT IT MIGHT GET ;- "THEM THREE MONTHS' ■". '" : imprisonment for using the courts for the purpose of advertisement. The witness re-plied-that If he acted liis part nobody wouldknow. He; asked [ for 50 guineas tor -his wife, because it ...was ,an unpleasant part to play, and he had to obtain some one he could rely upon, or the whole scheme would be exposed. The hundred guineas, which were paid to the witness were to include the> fees tb Mrs Eardley and others' who assisted. --' '*-''' : ;"' -'■' "'"'

Continuing, the witness said that on Apt il 6th he - .'-v..- .';■■* -.»*.

took The two ladies.to, lunch at the trocadeko, and about ten minutes before the curtain fell in the'first act they entered the theatre. -"Stall tickets for two seats-in front and one behind had been given to him bj; Mr Cursors m'aua'ger. During the luncheon the gentleman "shied," and refused to gu on with his part. The witness therefore at the last moment hod tr> telephone to a friend of Mrs E.iidley. He came ln his motor-cnr,, and the witness, having explalhed what was wanted, saw, him into the theatre. ':,. j ' , ' EXHIBITION OP' SMALL HATS. Mr Lllley: Did you prepare the accounts of this matter for the Press?":-»

The Witness: Yes, I gave the details to a representative of the Press. Others came flocking, to the theatre; Mr...Carion saw them and gave full details, it/had heen arranged to hold 'after : the police court proceedings an exhibition of small hats ou the stage at the theatre to try to make It bad form for a ,lady to appear in a public assembly-in a large'hat, and hats •were to ! be devised to show i -it .was not necessary to.wear a large bait. (Laughter.) After settling this exhibition, aud„arranglng for society ladies to be present,"lie received a' letter from; Mr. .Curzon .saying that the matinee hat exhibition would not take place.

Cross-examined by Mr.Schwabe, the witness said he had forgotten .to inform his solicitor that Mr Curzon had a promissory note of his for £97 and interest. ;You mean you forgot that you owed:a solictor that Mr. Curzon had a promissory man you were claiming £100 from the same amount?— Yes. The hats obtained for the "Incident" were, twelve-guinea hats, but the witness arranged with the"-makers to provide them—he. did not pay for them.

What did the gentleman who came up in the motor get?— Nothing, except his drinks. (Laughter.)

Did Mr Curzon speak to you about your attempting to obtain money,from this lady (handing np the name written on a slip of paper)?— No. Mr Curzon was not my employer. Mr Hawtrey was my employer. It was -with -his consent -that I did work for Miss Millar. I put It to you that.it was through seeing her in regard to money in respect of advertisements that Mr Curzon dismissed you?— No. Mrs Dann also gave evidence. MR CDRZON'S EVIDENCE. Mr Frank Curzon, the defendant, giving evidence, said it was untrue that he agreed to pay Mr Dann £100, or Mrs Dann £50. Cross-examined: These were just the sort of -things one expected a Press agent to do. You advertised your theatre by things of this sort if you had a Press agent Such things.were often done. The hat incident was made as easy as possible for the two ladies; the curtain was down almost immediately. Mrs Eardley is a novelist and liked the advertisement; she was delighted to do it The idea of paying her was absurd; she would not accept it; she was above accepting money. He denied that he made any arrangements as to paying the plaintiff. This was a purely blackmailing action. The outcome of the Incident was to have been, he thought that the right of a manager to allow ladles to remain with these atrocious hata waa to be triad *£cUB-«sttau There

would have been a good deal of advertise ment in that -"• '"*"_•'" ' • - Judge Woodfail aald fee considered Hit moist imjiortant point in this case waa whether ihe Courts of Juatice had been exploited for tiie purpose of getting an advertisement,-and if ao; whether this contract alleged was not null and void on the ground-that it )va~sV, against public policy. He considered• thntiof;so inuchiniportauce that he would reserve bis decision. The case was dismissed oa the following week for the reason given. -